Hearing held for ex-West High coach

The case against a former West High School coach, who is accused of tying up and handcuffing female students, came up for a pretrial hearing Thursday.

Michael Anthony Smith, 51, faces a maximum of more than three years in jail for four misdemeanors filed against him, according to Torrance Deputy City Prosecutor Della Thompson-Bell.

Although at least five girls reported that Smith put tape over their mouths, handcuffed them and wrapped their hands and feet in separate incidents, charges were filed on behalf of only two alleged victims. Thompson-Bell said the time allowed by law to file charges in the others had passed.

He is also charged with sexual battery for an alleged 2005 inappropriate touching incident on the football field involving another girl. The other charges are two counts of child annoyance and one for simple battery, Thompson-Bell said.

No charges were filed related to allegations that Smith made members of the football team kiss him during jersey distribution because there was no evidence of a crime, Thompson-Bell added.

A message left for Smith's attorney was not returned.

Because he is charged with misdemeanors, Smith did not have to be present for the Torrance Superior Court hearing. The case returns to court May15 for another pretrial hearing.

Smith was arrested in December after the boyfriend of one of the alleged victims contacted police.

He was a walk-on coach who worked for nine years at the Torrance school with various boys' basketball, baseball and football teams. Smith remains free on $50,000 bond.